Jammers are used in many places

Jammers are an essential tool in some locations, and many countries can also use jammers.

The annoying ringing of a cell phone in the middle of a film, a play, a restaurant meal or even a service could soon be a thing of the past.

The federal government will announce tomorrow that it will launch a 90-day advisory period starting in April, asking for Canadians’ views on the use of cell phone silencers.

The devices, commonly known as cell phone jammer, include a number of technologies that enable cell phones that have been turned on to be deactivated or automatically switched from sound mode to a mode that vibrates when a call comes in.

They could also be useful in areas where cell phones and walkie-talkies can pose a threat to public safety, e.g. B. Airports where wireless signals could potentially interfere with communication. They may also interfere with the operation of hospital equipment such as incubators, defibrillators, and heart monitors.

And it was over a year ago that Exxon and its Canadian subsidiary, Imperial Oil, began installing warning signs at gas stations, turning off their cell phones, and extinguishing their cigarettes before refilling. It was a reaction to an unconfirmed story of a driver in Indonesia who triggered an explosion when a spark from his cell phone ignited vapors.

“There is a very broad interest in it [the cell phone jammer],” said David Warnes, a senior consultant for Industry Canada. Last month, Hong Kong, a cell-crazy city of about six million people and 5.2 million wireless phones, said it was considering using jammers.

Japan resolved its cell phone jamming rules more than two years ago and allowed licenses in some public areas such as theaters.

A Los Angeles-based seller of Handy-Jammer, Global Protection & Intelligence Inc., has models ranging in price from $ 1,600 to $ 2,600. They prevent cellular frequencies from entering a certain area, with more expensive models blocking larger areas. The company sells a pocket-sized device that can cover a radius of about 150 meters and a cigar-box-sized model that keeps the conference room signal-free.

But not everyone is convinced that letting some people stop communicating with others is a good idea.